Things to Do in Weimar
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Weimar, Germany, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Weimar. Small town, disproportionate literary weight, Goethe and Schiller basically lived here, a small German town closely associated with two towering figures of German literature, the birthplace of the country's first attempt at democratic government, and home to an influential early 20th-century school of design that reshaped modern architecture worldwide. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Weimar: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the walk. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Goethe and Schiller
Weimar is closely associated with two towering figures of German literature, Goethe and Schiller, both of whom lived and worked there, their houses are both preserved as museums, a short walk apart in the town centre, worth visiting both, the Goethe House in particular offers a detailed look at the writer's life and working environment, largely preserved as it was during his lifetime.
The Duchess Anna Amalia Library, closely tied to this literary heritage, holds a properly significant historic book collection, worth a visit if you can secure the limited daily entry slots, the ornate rococo hall alone is worth the visit.
Hours Tue–Sun, roughly 9.30am–6pm
Address Goethe House and Schiller House, Weimar
The Weimar Republic
Weimar gave its name to Germany's first attempt at democratic government, known as the Weimar Republic, named simply for the town where the new constitution was drafted after the First World War, worth understanding this significant piece of 20th-century political history, the constitution was drafted here rather than in Berlin partly for symbolic reasons, moving away from the previous imperial capital following Germany's defeat in the war.
This period, and its eventual, difficult collapse, is worth reading up on before your visit, worth appreciating the weight this small town carries in modern German political history beyond just its literary reputation.
The Bauhaus School
Weimar is also home to an influential early 20th-century school of design and architecture, known as the Bauhaus, founded in the town in 1919, later hugely influential across modern architecture and design worldwide, worth a visit to the Bauhaus Museum, covering the movement's origins and its founding years specifically in Weimar before it later relocated to Dessau.
It's worth understanding Weimar's specific role as the movement's birthplace, worth combining a museum visit with a look at some of the actual early Bauhaus-era buildings still standing in the town, a UNESCO World Heritage designation covers several of these sites directly.
Hours Daily except Tuesdays, roughly 9.30am–6pm
Address Bauhaus Museum, Weimar
Best time to visit Weimar
May through September gives the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, mild without winter's cold.
Weimar's museums work well year-round, worth visiting even outside the warmer months if the weather isn't your priority.
Getting around Weimar
Weimar's town centre is entirely walkable, a compact, easy town to cover on foot. Buses cover destinations further out.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Weimar worth visiting?
- Yes, unquestionably, few small towns anywhere carry this much combined literary, political, and design history, Goethe and Schiller's homes, the Weimar Republic's origins, and the Bauhaus school together make for a properly dense, rewarding visit.
- How many days do you need in Weimar?
- Two days covers the Goethe and Schiller houses, the Bauhaus Museum, and the town centre comfortably.
- Is Weimar expensive?
- No, generally affordable, comparable to other mid-sized German towns for food and accommodation.
- What is Weimar famous for?
- Being closely associated with writers Goethe and Schiller, giving its name to the Weimar Republic, Germany's first attempt at democratic government, and being the birthplace of the influential Bauhaus school of design.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
